'No caucus can revolt against ANC,' says Mbalula
This follows reports over the weekend that the ANC’s parliamentary caucus has demanded that the Democratic Alliance (DA) be expelled from the Government of National Unity (GNU).
FILE: ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula during a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on 13 March 2025. Picture: Spamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG – African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Fikile Mbalula has downplayed claims of a revolt by some of the party’s members of Parliament (MPs) over the government of national unity.
This follows reports over the weekend that the ANC’s parliamentary caucus has demanded that the Democratic Alliance (DA) be expelled from the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The latest tensions between the two biggest parties in the multi-party coalition are believed to have been triggered by policy differences, as the DA gears up to take the government to court over the Employment Equity Act.
Mbalula addressed the claims on the sidelines of a public meeting in Freedom Park, in Soweto, on Sunday.
The Sunday Times has reported that more than 100 MPs confronted Mbalula at a hostile meeting in Joburg on Friday.
The publication says irate MPs questioned why the ANC stuck with the DA, despite its opposition to the two failed budgets and its public opposition to the National Health Insurance Act, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, the Expropriation Act and now the Employment Equity Amendment Act.
While Mbalula says the ANC caucus did raise some concerns, he added that ANC members continue to tow party lines.
“There is no caucus that can revolt against the ANC, it will never happen. There is no caucus that can rebel against the ANC; people have got the choice to join other political parties.”
Further meetings on the future of the GNU are expected in the coming weeks to reset the coalition’s terms of engagement.